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It's because he's going about it in the worst way possible. He's basically insulting them, telling them their trade policies (that he renegotiated!) aren't fair, and that they're letting drugs and whatever else over the border, then trying to coerce them with economic warfare and veiled threats of invasion. This isn't some rogue country that happens to be next to us, but probably the closest of many close allies. If there's ever any chance at a union it's through even closer cooperation. The first order of business should be trying to get all tariffs and duties down to zero in both directions, and negotiating some kind of Schengen-style agreement to get rid of border controls.
The people who feel the most insulted are also the ones who screwed up the country with their (and it has been exclusively their) idiotic economic policies. I have zero problem with the complete destruction of their culture and their political power, because they have had zero problems with destroying mine.
And I suspect that, should they win again (for the sole purpose of fighting this stupid trade war), that the Western provinces are going to get good enough at foreign diplomacy that this might occur regardless of what Ottawa wants. Alberta in particular has had some success in this and I think that's a bigger deal than others recognize.
Of course it should, but if we're going to do that, having some actual political lever to pull for economic policy will be useful. Hence the suggestion that Canada should join the
EuropeanUnion.Simply wrong. Canadian nationalism has been the province of the right since being disowned by the woke left and their captain Trudeau for the last decade. I and many Canadians I know who are like me were sympathetic to the Trump administration and their goals before they took power and started showing their immense capacity for bullying and self-sabotage on the world stage. Ideological alignment is one thing, but question the sovereignty of my country and insult the flag that I served under and you’ve made yourself an enemy.
When I was an Ontarian I was a Doug Ford supporter and I think his comments represent this way of thinking best; there is no contradiction in this line of thinking and it has not even damaged him and his image as the strongest Canadian leader in the current trade war: https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.7449512
Post-nationalism is nationalism for Eastern Big City Canadians. Being interested in the whole country's growth rather than invested in holy crusade against it is indeed a "right-wing" thing though.
Your desire to get credit for putting your life on the line for people who hate you is understandable.
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